Five-day feast for foodies

The Galway Food Festival, now in its fourth year, will take place over the Easter bank holiday weekend from Thursday, April 2 to Monday, April 6.

The five-day event celebrates all things foodie in Galway and aims to showcase Galway city, county, Connemara and the Aran Island’s unique food produce, traditions and restaurants to local, national and international audiences.

The comprehensive festival programme has been developed with families, gourmet enthusiasts and first-time visitors to Galway in mind with a comprehensive itinerary which is sure to satisfy all taste buds!

Over 70,000 people attended last year’s Galway Food Festival with highlights such as, the eclectic festival food village at the Spanish Arch, the Moycullen and Woodquay country markets, workshops and live cooking demonstrations involving over 100 food outlets and producers from across the city and county.

This year’s festival will see the return of all the above, along with lots of new  activities including: Food Taster Trails along Galway city’s cobbled streets taking in many unique locations, Aran Islands Food Tours to explore age-old food harvesting traditions coupled with today’s techniques, and a comprehensive timetable of live cooking demonstrations for kids and adults.

Also planned are coastal foraging trips on the Wild Atlantic way, food tours of Galway’s contrasting landscape of  green fields and rugged Connemara, Craft Beer Making Tours, whiskey and wine tasting, cocktail classes, and an inspirational  series of talks on a range of topical issues in the food and drinks industry. 2015 will see international as well as acclaimed homegrown chefs such as Derry Clarke descend on Galway to enjoy the buzz, craic and culture of this unique food lovers’ event.

Plans are also being made to host events at a number of surprise locations throughout Galway city and county.

The 2015 Festival will also seek to build on Galway’s growing status as a Food Capital of the Wild Atlantic Way where Connemara Spring lamb, brown trout, wild salmon, seafood, organic fruit, vegetables and herbs can be found in abundance in this unique natural environment.

■ For more details log onto www.galwayfoodfestival.com